DENVER, May 13, 2014The Dental Group Practice Association (DGPA), a nonprofit industry association representing more than 30 dental support organizations (DSOs), announced today that the organization has changed its name to the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO).

“It’s important that our organization’s name clearly reflects our mission to support DSOs and all they do to ensure the delivery of innovative, high quality and cost effective care,” said Dr. Quinn Dufurrena, Executive Director of ADSO. “Our mission is to provide world-class business and technology support services to dentists, a partnership that lets dentists focus on what they do best, which is serving their patients.”

Dentistry is going through a transformation — and DSOs are at the forefront, driving innovation within the dentist’s office. Non-DSO supported dentists, often referred to as solo practitioners, are still the majority in dentistry but the tide is shifting. In 2010, 69 percent of dentists were solo practitioners, down from 76 percent in 2006. By comparison, group practices, many supported by DSOs, have increased by 25 percent from 2009 to 2011.

Today, ADSO supports an estimated 8,000-licensed dentists who operate in approximately 4,000 dental practice locations and account for more than 27 million patient visits per year. As patients experience barriers to quality oral healthcare, DSOs help dentists expand access by improving practice efficiency, which allows dentists to accept greater numbers of insurance plans while spending as much time as possible chair-side with their patients.

“By embracing the DSO model, dentists have found the most productive and balanced way to thrive and succeed in today’s environment,” said Doug Brown, President of ADSO and CEO of Affordable Care, Inc. “We want to ensure consumers have access to dentists — and DSOs help dentists reduce costs while improving job satisfaction and work/life balance.”

The DSO model is similar to the Physician Practice Management (PPM) and Medical Support Organization (MSO) models that have a long history of successful operation throughout the United States, providing non-clinical support services such as facility maintenance, technology improvement, supply procurement, scheduling and back-office support.